Fire-kindlings and machine for manufacturing the same



' BY A (Model.)

H. N. BILL. Fire Kindling and Machine for Manufacturing the Same. No. 229,945. Patented July13, 1880.

WITNESSES: 4 y INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

NJEIERS FNOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. I) 0y UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

HORATIO N. BILL, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

FlRE-KINDLINGS AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,945, dated July 13, 1880.

Application filed March 22, 1880. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORATIO N. BILL, of Willimantic, in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Fire-Kindlings and Machines for Manufacturing the same, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of the invention is to make a cheap and readily-ignited kindling-block, as hereinafter described.

Theinventionconsistsinconnectingthe movable jaw with the treadle by a toggle and a rod, and also in a fixed jaw having a projecting block-support an'd extension-guides, as hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine designed for crushing the ends of the blocks of wood. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the fixed jaw and block-support of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the movable jaw of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a kindling-block.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Arepresents the crushingniachine, consisting of a standard, B, having extending laterally from one side of it, at and near its top two lugs, a I), through perforations in which a vertical crushing bar or rod, 0, is inserted, said bar C being encircled by a spiral spring, D.

Below the lug b the fixed bar E projects, with its opening immediately beneath the point of the crushing-bar C. Immediately below the fixed jaw E the block-supportF and the guides G G of the movable jaw project from the said standard B. Below the blocksupport F is the fulcrum H of the movable 4o jaw I, within which the said jaw I is pivoted,

the upper end of said jaw passing up between the guides G G, and being bent inward toward the fixedjaw E. The lower end of thisjaw I is prolonged downward, and is pivoted in one end of the knuckle or compound lever K, whose other end is pivoted to the said standard B, and Whose center is pivoted to the top of the rod L, said rod L having its lower end pivoted in the slotted treadle M, which is, in turn, pivoted on the standard B, near the bottom thereof. Attached to the under side of this treadle M is a spiral spring, N, which,

resting on the ground, by its tension keeps the said treadle M in position to hold the jaws E I apart.

The jaws "E I have V-shaped grooves c d, respectively,formed in theirfaces, said grooves 0d being flared or expanded outward near their tops, as shown, to permit the kindling-block to spread at its upper end underthe blow from the crushing rod or bar C.

The wood to be used for the kindlings is first fashioned into small rectangular blocks. The operator then takes each block successively and places it on the supportF between the pins E I, and, placing a foot on the treadle M, forces the jaw I to hold said block firmly.

Then with a hammer he strikes a blow on the head of the crushing-bar O, and thereby forces said crushing-bar 0 down upon said block, in the direction of the fiber thereof, with sufficient force to crush or broom the end of said block, producing by this manipulation a block of kindling with one end broomed or crushed, as shown in Fig. 4.

After the crushing-bar C has delivered a blow the spiral spring D restores it to its primary position in readiness for another blow, and the operator removes his foot from the treadle M in order to open the jaws E I and to remove the crushed block and put another block in its place. By these means a block an inch square maybe made to present a surface of many square feet for ignition, and will then readily take fire on the application of a match and continue to burn.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The jaw I, connected with the treadle by the toggle H and rod L, as shown and described.

52. The combination, with the movable jaw I, fulcrumed at H, 'of the fixed jaw E, having the projecting block-support F and extensionguides G, as shown and described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a block of kindling-wood having one end crushed and broomed, as shown and described.

HORATIO NELSON BILL.

Witnesses:

JAMES WALDEN, ARCHIE W. TURNER. 

